MS6631 BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSIONS

1 Birmingham Theological Seminary 2200 Briarwood Way Birmingham, AL 35243 205-776-5650 MS6631 BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSIONS Spring 2013 Professor: Dr. Todd Baucum Dothan Campus- Dothan Community Church Thursdays: 7:30pm Email: Class Hours: 2 cell: 334-475-6683 Course Purpose The course surveys the BIBLICAL and theological foundations for the missionary task of the Global Church. It examines the whole BIBLICAL narrative , including Israel s responsibility to the nations, the commission of Jesus Christ, and Paul s missionary THEOLOGY and practice. The course will also touch upon the contemporary issues of syncretism, ecumenism and the rapid changing cultural landscape of MISSIONS from a Northern hemisphere matrix to a non-Western, international enterprise, to equip students of the Bible with a proper understanding of Christian MISSIONS in the 21st Century.

2 Course Objectives The student should be able upon completion of the course to : 1. See and explain the redemptive and kingdom narrative of the Bible as the key theme for being missional. 2. Develop a biblically faithful approach to living in a pluralistic world. 3. Identify and evaluate some of the theological issues and contemporary trends in the study and practice of MISSIONS . 4. Have a greater appreciation of the central role of MISSIONS for personal growth and walk with God. 5. Articulate the key passages that call us to live with a concern for the whole world. 6. Examine non-Western approaches and consider new paradigms in mission in the 21st Century. 7. Reflect on recent changes the impact of globalization has on MISSIONS today. Required Texts: Wright, Christopher. The mission of God: Unlocking the Bible s Grand narrative .

3 Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Newbigin, Leslie. The Open Secret: Sketches of a Missionary THEOLOGY . Revised. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995. Piper, John. Let the Nations Be Glad: The Supremacy of God in MISSIONS . Grand Rapids: Baker. 1993. Suggested Reading List: (can be used for extra credit- contains my top list of important books on MISSIONS ) Allen, Roland. St. Paul s Method and Ours. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962. (This is considered a classic work.) Bosch, David. Transforming mission : Paradigm Shifts in THEOLOGY of mission . Maryknoll (NY): Orbis Books, 1991. Glasser, Arthur. Announcing the Kingdom. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003. Goldsworthy, G. L. Gospel and Kingdom: A Christian Interpretation of the Old Testament. Exeter: Paternoster, 1981. (A great book on how to view the Old Testament from a redemptive/historical approach that is geared to average person).

4 Kostenberger, Andreas J. and Peter T. O Brien. Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY of mission . Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2001. Stott, John R. W. Christian mission in the Modern World. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1975. (Somewhat dated on contemporary issues, but unbeatable for Stott s ability to give balance and wisdom on the subject of MISSIONS . Highly recommend.) Course Requirements: 1. Class attendance is expected. 2. Completion of reading assignments from texts and other required reading by class time. This will reflect in the student being able to discuss and ask relevant questions prompted by the readings. You will be asked to sign a covenant of reading completion. 3. One book report on any of the supplemental books listed. This is a two page report following Turabian format.

5 4. One mid-term exam. 5. A major research paper (15 pages not including title page or bibliography) dealing with a topic of MISSIONS , or cross-cultural ministry. Topic needs to be approved by the Professor. Paper should follow BTS guidelines and should reflect both theological and exegetical arguments from the students own study and reflection. 6. Final Exam. Grading 1. Completion of assigned reading and book review 15% 2. Research paper 30% 3. Mid-term exam 20% 4. Final exam 30% 5. Class attendance and participation 5% BTS Format and Style Standards Note: All papers must be formatted in accordance with Turabian Chicago standards including the title page. Any paper not conforming to these standards will automatically be dropped one letter grade. It is expected that students will follow high academic standards of research, documentation and accurate footnotes.

6 All course materials must be submitted to the professor at the end of the semester (last day of class). Thereafter, course materials may be submitted for up to six weeks after the end of the semester directly to the office of the registrar with the permission of the professor. If a student submits course materials after the end of the semester but within the six week grace period, the student s grade will be lowered by one letter grade. The course materials will not be accepted after the six week grace period and a failing grade will be posted to the student s transcript. Course Schedule and Outline Jan. 24 - The mission of God Read: Wright, ch. 1-2 - The Bible and mission Jan. 31 A THEOLOGY of mission Read: Wright, chs. 3-4; Piper, ch. 1- MISSIONS and Worship Feb. 7 A Missionary God Read: Wright, ch.

7 5; Piper ch. 2 MISSIONS and Prayer Feb. 14 MISSIONS and God s Sovereignty Read: Wright, chs. 6-7; Piper ch. 3 MISSIONS and Suffering Feb. 21 Models of Redemption and Restoration Read: Wright, chs. 8-9; Piper, ch. 4 The Supremacy of Christ - Book Report Due Feb. 28 Being a Missional Church Read: Wright, chs. 10-11; Piper, ch. 5 Supremacy of God Mar. 7 The Ecology of MISSIONS Read: Wright, chs. 12-13 The Arena of MISSIONS : Newbigin, chs. 1-2 Mar. 14 - No Class Spring Break Mar. 21 - The Ethnology of MISSIONS Read Wright, chs. 14-15; Newbigin , chs. 3-4 Mid-Term Exam Mar. 28 Issues in MISSIONS Read Newbigin, chs. 5-6 April 4- Issues in MISSIONS Read Newbigin, chs. 7-8. April 11 Issues in MISSIONS Read Newbigin, chs. 9-10 April 18 Final Exam Final Paper Due THEOLOGY of MISSIONS Bibliography Books and Articles Allen, Roland.

8 The Ministry of the Spirit. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960. Anderson, Gerald, Ed. The THEOLOGY of Christian mission . NY: McGraw Hill, 1961. Banks, William L. In Search of the Great Commission. Chicago: Moody Press, 1991. Bassham, Roger. mission THEOLOGY : 1948-1975 Years of Worldwide Creative Tension: Ecumenical, Evangelical, and Roman Catholic. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 1979. Beals, Paul A. A People for His Name. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988. Blauw, Johannes. The Missionary Nature of the Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962. Bosch, David. Transforming mission : Paradigm Shifts in THEOLOGY of MISSIONS . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1991. Bosch, David J. Witness to the World: mission in Theological Perspective. Atlanta: John Knox, 1980. Culver, Robert Duncan. A Greater Commission: A THEOLOGY for World MISSIONS . Chicago: Moody Press, 1984.

9 Dobbie, Robert. The BIBLICAL Foundation of the mission of the Church: The Old Testament. International Review of mission , Vol 51, April, 1962, 196-205. Dryness, William A. Let the Earth Rejoice: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY of Holistic mission . Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1983. DuBose, Frances. M., Ed. Classics in Christian MISSIONS . Nashville, TN: Broadman, 1979. Escobar, Samuel. The New Global mission . Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2003. Filbeck, David. Yes, God of the Gentiles, Too: The Missionary Message of the Old Testament. Wheaton, IL: Billy Graham Center, 1995. Fretheim, Terence E. The Understanding of mission in the Old Testament in Bible and mission : BIBLICAL Foundations and Working Models for Congregational Ministry. Wayne Stumme, ed. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1986. Glasser, Arthur. Announcing the Kingdom. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003.

10 Glasser, William and Donald McGavern. Contemporary Theologies of mission . Grand Rapids: Baker, 1983. Glover, Robert Hall. The Bible Basis of MISSIONS . Los Angeles: Bible House, 1946. Gnanakan, Ken R. Kingdom Concerns: A BIBLICAL Exploration Towards a THEOLOGY of mission . Bangalore, India: Theological Book Trust. Goerner, H. Cornell. All Nations In God s Purpose: What the Bible Teaches About MISSIONS . Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1979. Goldsworthy, G. L. Gospel and Kingdom: A Christian Interpretation of the Old Testament. Exeter: Paternoster, 1981. _____. The Great Indicative: An Aspect of a THEOLOGY of mission . RTR, 55, 2-13. Harrisville, Roy A. Paul: Justification and mission . In Bible and mission . Wayne Stumme, ed. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1986. Hedlund, Roger E. The mission of the Church in the World: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY .